Reoipkooating engine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (No Model.)

W. W. ST. JOHN.

REOIPROGATING ENGINE.

No. 352,333. Patented Nov. 16, 1333 mite/35%;? f

N. PETERS. PllulnLvlhOgraphL-r. Wuhingwn, D c,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. W. ST. JOHN.

BEGIPROOATING ENGINE.

(No Model.)

Pa ten ted Nov. 16, 1886,

z'ar; Wzlla'am/ W75 jg UNITED STATES VILLIAM ST. JOHN, OF NEW YORK, Y.

PATENT OFFIC RECIIPROCATING ENGINE.

CPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352,633, dated November 16, 1886,

Application filed February 24, 1886. Serial No. 193.005. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. ST. JOHN,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at New valves for reciprocating engines more especiall y adapted to very high speeds or velocities; and the object ofthe invention is to produce an engine that is more economical in the use of steam and fuel than those now in use; that is very simple in its construction and operation; also, that the valves can be easily replaced or repaired when required, and especially that a very large area of port-openings can be obtained with a very short stroke of valve; furthermore, that the valves can be easily fitted and finished to their seats, as well as removed whenever desired; and, finally, to prevent condensation of steam by long passages.

The invention consists in making the heads hollow and forming in them circular valveseats, on which annular ring-valves fit and move to admit and exhaust the steam through the ports formed in the seats. It also consists in the construction of certain details and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully de- .views of the Valve-gear.

scribed hereinafter, and specifically pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

Like letters indicate like parts in the different figures of the drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of an engine with my improved valves. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4. are detail Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of an engine cylinder and valves of a modified form of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line was of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an end view of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, A is an engine-cylinder, provided with the cylinder-heads B and G. In these heads are arranged an annular steamchamber, b, and an exhaust-chamber, c. The live steam enters through aport, D, connected before entering the cylinder, while the exhauststeam passes through the port einto the port E, and thence into the atmosphere or to a condenser.

The valves F and G are of annular form and snugly fit upon their respective seats, and in their movements backward and forward admit and exhaust the steam. To prevent binding or twisting of thevalves,they are operated by two, three, or more valve-stems, f, passing through suitable stnffing boxes, 9, and are connected to bands or rings h, having an arm, 2, to which the side rods, 70, are attached. The side rods, k, connect the rings h at both ends of the cylinder, and to one of said rings the main valvestem is secured and receives motion from an eccentric, link, &c., in the ordinary manner. If desired, aside rod, k, may be arranged on each side of the cylinder, or one of them may be a hollow and the other a solid one. The 'cylinderheads may be recessed at one side or both sides, to permit the side rods to be placed nearer the centers of the Valves and reduce the length of the arms i,which operate the valves.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 there is but one set of valves arranged in the heads B and G. In this instance the valveseats V are made removable. They consist of rings provided with theports dande,communieating with the ports D and E, alternately admitting and exhausting the steam. These rings are snugly fitted in place, and, if desired, they may be shrunk in by heating the heads. Small projections 12 on said rings prevent any lateral displacement, they fitting snugly into the cylinder. The valves alternately serve as the inlet and the outlet valve in this case. Thus if the steam is admitted through the valve F into the cylinder it'is exhausted through the other end by the valve G. The valve-stems are secured to lugs on the inside of the valves and pass through the stufiing-boxes. The stuffing-box for the piston-rod may be cast to the head of the cylinder, or may be made removable and screwed into its place or bolted to the head. The valve-rods f may be connected to the rings h,

or a condenser, and vice versa.

as in Figs. 1 to 4, or operated in any other manner. The operation is as follows: The steam enters the port D, Fig. 1, passes into the chambers b in the cylinder-head; alternately, and through the steam-ports cl and chambers 0 into the cylinder. At the same time the exhauststeam passes through the chambers c at the opposite ends of the cylinder, thence through the ports 6 when uncovered by the valves G, and out through the port E into the atmosphere In Fig. 5 the steam enters through the port D, the port d in the valve-seatinto the chamber b,and thence into the cylinder. At the same time the exhaust-steam passes out through the chamber 0, port 6, and thence-through the port E into the atmosphere or condenser. In this instance the valves or ports alternately serve as inlet and outlet valves and ports, thus dispensing with one pair of valves and ports, as in Fig. 1. The advantages of my improved engine will be readily appreciated by engineers and others skilled in the art, and among them are, that the steam enters directly into the cylinder by short ports instead of long ones; the ports can be of minimum size or width, and yet a very large area of opening is afforded by be ing circular; the valves and ports are easily constructed, fitted to place, and replaced or repaired; the heads, being separate from the cylinder, are easier handled and finished and the engine can be cheaper produced; the valves are perfectly balanced.

I am aware of the German PatentN o. 3, 298, and disclaim the construct-ion therein shown. I am also aware of the Patent No. 17,893 to Reed, and disclaim theconstruction therein shown; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1S.-

1. In an engine, the valves and ports of 'cylindrical form arranged in the cylinderheads, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

2. In an engine, the valves made of cylindrical form and seated upon cylindrical faces,

having the ports for admitting and exhausting the steam, arranged in the cylinder-heads, as set forth.

3. In an engine, the valves made of cylindrical form seated upon cylindrical faces, pro vided with steam inlet and outlet ports, arranged in the cylinder-heads, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a cylinder and h0llow cylindenheads containing the valves and ports of cylindrical form with valve-stems operating said valves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an engine, the hollow cylinder-heads containing the valves and ports of cylindrical form, in combination with a cylinder having annular ports communicating with the ports in the cylinder-heads, as and for the purpose specified. I

6. In an engine, the valves having cylindrical faces seated on cylindrical valve-seats, provided with ports and communicating with steam-chambers in the heads and ports in the cylinder, as set forth.

7. The combination of a cylinder with the cylinder-heads, provided with steam-chambers and ports of cylindrical form, and containing the valves, arranged substantially as described.

8. In an engine, the cylindrical valve-seats provided with ports and made removable, in combination with cylindrical valves, and all arranged in the cylinder-heads in the manner shown and specified.

9. The cylinder A, having ports D, and communicating by annular chamber 0 with the chambers in the cylinder-heads, containing the inlet and outlet ports, and the valves F and G, of cylindrical form, and seated on cylindrical valve-seats, all substantially asjand for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM WV. 81. JOHN.

Witnesses:

I RA M. PHELPS, LoUIs BEYER. 

